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BOISE -- Generally the only thing that gets me up before 8 on a weekend is my kids, so why did I think it was a good idea to get up at 6:30 a.m. (ok, 6:39, I hit the snooze once) to spend 18 straight hours with five other guys from work?
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl baby!
The close proximity of Boise to Logan and the Wasatch Front made traveling to this game a no-brainer for many USU faithful - author included. Caravans of vehicles with Utah license plates and Utah State Aggie paraphernalia lined I-84 all morning. Maybe Aggie fans thought Kevin Eubank was traveling with us to Boise in the less than inconspicuous KSL Weather vehicle, as we had a few rabid Aggie fans roll down their windows and put their fandom on display as they drove by.
Aggie nation was on its way.
Arriving in Boise, we paid a visit to the USU pre game activities. One of my goals was to find someone who attended the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl. That person was Brandon Peterson.
"I remember I came with my grandparents last time", he said. "I was seven."
Well, at least I found someone who attended. Even if he can't remember much about the experience.
The Corbetts have a special memory of that bowl game, even though they didn't attend it.
"Spencer (our son) was born on that day, December 29th," Andy Corbett said. "We went to the hospital. We were at the hospital watching the game."
My memory of the the Humanitarian Bowl is positively boring compared to that. I watched the game at a neighbor's as my parents house didn't have the luxury of cable TV at the time. Yeah, I know. Lame.
This being the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, there was a heavy emphasis on potatoes everywhere. Potatoes for a pre-game meal, the worlds largest potato on display in front of the stadium and an Idaho Potato mascot posing with fans. I swear I saw the potato and Big Blue duking it out at one point. Pretty sure the potato got mashed.
(rim shot)
Now let's be honest, the words "Boise" and "Idaho" are not exactly synonymous with "Bowl Game". When I think of bowl games, I think of somewhere warm and sunny. Well, they got the sunny part down. Yes Salt Lake, the sun is still there. The warm part? Well, it hit a high of 43 degrees Saturday. That's downright balmy compared to the low 20's in Logan. People start breaking out short sleeves and shorts when it hits the mid 50's in Logan, so this was definitely light jacket weather - as long as you were in the sun, anyway.
"It's a unique experience. Where most bowls are in southernmost states and its warm and so forth," said Danny Gutierrez, a former USU football player ('98-'01). "For those people that don't have the opportunity to get down to those bowls and take in that type of experience, I think it great that the Idaho Potato Commission puts it on here."
While it may have been a bit chilly, the reception from the city of Boise was more than warm.
"It's been fun coming to Boise," Corbett said. "As we have talked to the Boise people they have said that they are going to root for the Aggies."
Other Aggie faithful were just happy to be anywhere post- season. Fourteen years is a long time to go without that opportunity. Recent USU Alum Matt Sonnenberg reflected on the less than stellar past seasons.
"I slaved away through the one win season of '06 and subsequent years under Brent Guy that weren't fun. This is refreshing," he said. "Having gone to all of the games, front row, losing. To finally be here. This is incredible."
"We're not used to football doing anything for us, it's pretty cool", said Utah State student Greg Harris. His buddy Bodie McFarline echoed his enthusiasm for the game.
"The bowl game is going to be fun. We get to play on the Smurf turf!"
About that turf. You have probably seen it on TV or in photos. To experience it in person is a bit, well, weird. Most of us are used to seeing football played on nice green fields. Seeing the game played out on the bright blue "Smurf Turf" kind of plays tricks on your mind. Turf isn't supposed to be that color. I can see why the Boise State Broncos have a bit more of a home field advantage with it.
Just before kickoff, fans were treated to a patriotic tribute to the Armed Forces, complete with a football field sized American Flag and flyover by A- 10's stationed at the nearby Gowen Field in Boise.
With a reported attendance of around 28,000, it was hardly a sellout (the stadium capacity is 35,000), but you would have been hard pressed to tell that from the crowd noise. Great USU plays were greeted with a deafening roar from the predominately Aggie crowd. Aggie blue was the color de jour with a sprinkling of Boise State Orange.
With a venue the size of Bronco Stadium, it's hard to really have a bad seat. I journeyed to one of the more altitude challenged seats to see for myself and happened upon former USU and Academic all WAC Defensive Back Travis Schow ('90-'94). Travis was part of the the '93 Vegas Bowl team as well as the last USU team to play Ohio before Saturday. The last meeting ended with USU on top 5-0. Attending Saturday's game with his kids, Travis reflected on the similarities.
"This year is very similar to the year we had back in 93. We had a five-game winning streak to end the year, played a MAC team, played a bowl game," said Schow.
Unfortunately, the year 2011 would not end in a win like it did back in 1993.
A touchdown by Ohio in the waning seconds gave the Bobcats their first lead of the game and the eventual win.
But even with a heartbreaking loss - one that seemed to be indicative of the entire season - fans remained upbeat and optimistic regarding the future of the program.
"The bowl game was good, just glad to be here. Lots of heartbreakers this year. It happens," said Kendall Call.
"We couldn't be more proud of them. They played their hearts out. They made it to a bowl game. We need to celebrate that," said a group of young fans.
"They had a good season and got to a bowl game." said Brad Howard. "The program is coming up. Andersen is bringing up the program. We're going to be coming to more and more bowl games."
I for one hope USU has many more opportunities to play in bowl games in the future. Even if it isn't in a sunny and warm locale. Let's just not make everyone wait another 14 years. OK?
